Have you ever started a new job, joined a new group, or maybe found a new set of friends and realized, “Because of things that happened long before my time, I stepped into something great”?
That was the core of Pastor Andy’s message today at Trinity Baptist Church as we discussed how each one of us was “Made for Victory”!
Because Jesus died on a cross for our sins, we are each already victorious through Him.
**** 1 Corinthians 15:57 ****
But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
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If we are already victorious, the we should walk victoriously. But how do we do that?
Pastor Andy shared 6 Ways to Walk in Victory:
1. WALK IN LOVE
We live in a culture today that teaches selfishness, including being selfish in how we love others.
“I’ll make time for you … if my schedule allows.”
“I’ll give you the thing you need … when I don’t need it anymore.”
“I’ll love you … so long as you are meeting my needs.”
“I’ll help you … so long as you help me, too.”
Love in its fullness is sacrifice. Walking in love means there will be a cost. You have to be willing to serve, to forgive, to give more than you receive, to offer grace, and to love those who sin against you.
Changing your focus to love others unconditionally, despite what cultural norms tell you to do, is challenging. You must shift your focus from modeling what the world tells you to do to modeling what Christ did.
**** John 13:34 ****
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.
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2. WALK IN LIGHT
Nothing good ever happens in the dark.
Nothing good ever happens in secret.
Nothing good ever happens where you can’t be seen.
Ephesians 5 highlights just a few of the many sins our culture today perpetuates as being okay. The world has desensitized us to accepting many sins as “normal” and therefore “acceptable”.
**** Ephesians 5:3-5 ****
But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people.
Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.
For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater —has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
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It doesn’t matter what your sin is. If you’re stuck in it, you’re walking in darkness.
It may be easy to say, “If no one knows I’m doing it, it’s okay.” But God knows. The longer you play with the sin, the more it will not only destroy you, but the more it will also destroy those around you.
Stepping out of the darkness and into the light can be scary. You may fear feeling shame. But honestly, the only way you can be set free from your sin is to own it, to ask for forgiveness, and to allow God to restore your path so you can walk in the light.
3. WALK IN WISDOM
If you rely on your emotions to make decisions, you will come up short. Instead of asking, “Should I do this?” or “Should I say this?”, ask, “Is this a wise thing to do according to God’s standards”?
Ask yourself “Am I making wise decisions about…
• How I spend my time with my family?
• How I am spending my money?
• How I am serving others?
• How I am involved in my church?
If you want to walk in wisdom, you cannot also walk in pride.
**** Proverbs 11:2 ****
When pride comes, then comes disgrace,
but with humility comes wisdom.
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4. WALK IN SUBMISSION
When you walk in submission to Christ, you destroy any opportunity for pride to settle in. Pride will ruin marriages, destroy careers, and ruin relationships because pride allows the enemy to get control while blinding you to what is happening around you.
The only way to destroy pride is through humility and submission to becoming more Christlike. Ask yourself in everything you do:
• “Am I focused on what I want or what God wants?”
• “Am I treating others the way I want or how God wants?”
• “Am I doing things that please me or that please God?”
**** Proverbs 16:18 ****
Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.
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5. WALK IN OBEDIENCE
Our purpose in life is not to please other people. Our purpose in life is to honor and please God.
We live in a culture today that no longer teaches obedience. Kids are not taught respect. Adults no longer respect one another. Police are no longer shown respect and honor. So how can we walk in the way of the world and also walk in obedience?
We can’t.
We have to recognize we serve one Lord. He is either the Lord of all or He is not Lord at all.
If you are not being obedient to what God has called you to do, you have a Lordship issue. So ask yourself:
• “What conversation am I not having that I know God needs me to have?”
• “What sins am I hiding from the world that I need to let go of and make right with God?”
• “What steps am I too afraid to take that I know God has been leading me to take?”
6. WALK IN POWER
Finally, in order to walk victoriously, we must be spiritually prepared. The enemy will always be working to destroy you, but you serve a mighty God who is always there to help you defeat the enemy.
Sometimes we find ourselves trying to wage war with others we think have wronged us. When we do this, we are fighting the wrong enemy. God calls us to forgive, to let go of anger, and to love one another. Satan calls us to harbor hate, hold onto hurt from the past, to judge others, and to feel as though our position in life is superior to others.
**** 1 Peter 5:8 ****
Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
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Keep your eyes open for evil so you see it coming into your life.
You were made to walk in victory. If you’re not sure where to start your walk, the first step you should take is prayer. Make your needs known to the Lord.
**** Philippians 4:6–7 ****
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
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Click here to watch the full message online.